PICTURE: RAF inspects wrecked Red Arrows Hawk

24 March, 2010

SOURCE: Flight International

BY: Craig Hoyle

London

The UK Ministry of Defence has named the pilots involved in yesterday's mid-air collision between two aircraft from the Royal Air Force's Red Arrows aerobatic display team, as an image of the remains of one of their BAE Systems Hawks has been published.

Flt Lt Dave Montenegro was unhurt and landed his damaged aircraft at the Greek air force's Kastelli air base in Crete following the incident, while Flt Lt Mike Ling ejected from his Hawk. He sustained a dislocated shoulder and minor injuries, the MoD says, while his aircraft was destroyed after hitting the runway at the base.

The pilots fly as Red 7 and Red 6 respectively, with Ling being the lead pilot for the team's Synchro pair.

The MoD says the collision happened at 11:50 local time, while the aircraft were participating in a pre-season training deployment at the Greek base. "The 2010 season training will continue as soon as possible," it adds.